A text message from Adam Federici helped Adam Le Fondre pursue his ‘once in a lifetime’ signing with Sydney FC, the Sky Blues striker has revealed.
Elsewhere, a Melbourne City journeyman is confident he’s in for the best season of his career.
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It’s all in this week’s edition of Hyundai A-League Paper Talk.
Federici gives Le Fondre green light
The former Bolton striker told Fox Sports that back and forth conversation with Federici, whom Le Fondre played 59 matches with at Reading, helped sway his decision to sign on at the Harbour City club.
READ: Le Fondre on target in Sydney FC’s friendly win
“I trusted Fed’s opinion,” Le Fondre said.
“He did message me nearly every day telling me to go and that, ‘you’ll enjoy it, stop thinking too much about it, you’ll love it over there’.
“Ultimately the little kid inside said, ‘you will enjoy it’.
“He’s been really good with it and really helped with all the advice I needed. He’s facilitated everything for me, so he’s been a real help.”
️⚽️ | Enjoy @A1F1E9's maiden goal for the Sky Blues as he opened his account against @IndianFootball U23's!#SydneyIsSkyBlue #ComeWithUs pic.twitter.com/c2WMPWVorl
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) August 28, 2018
Le Fondre also revealed that fellow Hyundai A-League outfits Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets were interested in snaring his services, but the appeal of the 2017 Premiers proved too strong.
The 31-year-old said he’d looked into the Sky Blues’ recent Hyundai A-League dominance and wasn’t phased by stepping into the boots of record-breaking former striker Bobo.
“When I realised Sydney were interested in me I researched the club and what happened last season,” Le Fondre said.
“I’m not phased by anything like that. Where I’ve gone I’ve set records, so I’m not bothered by that.
“There is obviously going to be a period of adjustment, but that will be in pre-season so I’m hoping when the season comes I’ll hit the ground running and the goals will start.”
Vidosic predicting big things in 2018/19
He’s been around the Hyundai A-League for a number of years but Melbourne City playmaker Dario Vidosic feels he’s set for his best-ever season in the competition.
In an interview with FourFourTwo, the 31-year-old revealed this is his first injury-free pre-season in the last six years.
It’s left the 23-cap Caltex Socceroo confident he could be about to produce his best football for Warren Joyce’s side.
“I haven’t missed any sessions. It’s all been positive,” Vidosic told FourFourTwo.
“I’ve not been able to be part of a pre-season for the past six years. It’s nice to be actually able to set a platform for the season and get the body right.
“Now in the friendly games I’m almost running as much as I was in the games last season, so it’s a big positive
“Even though I’m 31, I want this year to be the best year I’ve ever had personally. To be better than every other season I’ve played.
“At the same time, it’s to do a job, work hard and as one of the older ones, there’s a leadership role. I need to set the example each day and work at a very high level.”
Vidosic wants career-best year after rare injury-free pre-season https://t.co/e81vdFQFs9 #football #FTBL #ALeague pic.twitter.com/BLk9a9tkDT
— Inside Sport (@InsideSportmag) August 26, 2018
